Hat-brip-softening device



(No Modal.)

W. MITCHELL.

HAT BEIM SOFTBNING DEVICE. No.49L3l9. Patented Feb. 7, w93.

NTTnn STaTns "eTnT @Trice YILLIS MITCHELL, OF MALDEN, ASSIGNOR, ,BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMEROAN ELECTRIC HEATING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HAT-BRiM-SOFTENING DEVlCE.

y SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,319, dated February 7, 1893.

Application iileci June 8, 1892. Serial No. 435,931. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern: closed at the bottom but open at the top,with

Be it known thatl, TVTLLIS MITGHELL,acit-i air-inlet holes a in the lower part ot its side- Zen ci' the United States, residing at Malden, Wall, these nevertheless allowing space for in the countg.7 of Middlesex and State of Masliquid below them. From this side-Wall arms 5 5 5 sachusetts, have invented certain new and or brackets b extend inwardlyin any convenuseful Improvements in Electrically-Heated ient number to a hollow metallic cylinder B ilat-Brim-Sottening Devices; and l do hereby which constitutes the core of the electric declare the following to be a full, clear, and heater; the remainder of said heater being -Y exact description of the invention, such as composed of an insulated wire helix C which 6o io will enable others skilled in the art to which is Wound thereon in one or more layers as deit appertains to malte and use the same. sired. The ends of the said helix are conrifhe object of this invention is to provide nected to a binding post D or equivalent deconvenient and satisfactory means for softenvice extending through the side Wall of the ing hat brims in order to tit or mold them to casing or receptacle A to which the suitably 65 15 purchasers heads; electricity being employed incased circuit wires d d are also connected.

te generate the heat and thereby;1 the vapor This brings the wire helix C, or other ecnnecessary te this operation. ductor or resistance which maybe substituted To this end my invention consists in the therefor into circuit; with the usual result ot' combination with an exterior casing or recepevolving heat. The said heater is held se- 7o eo tacle, adapted to support a hat and provided cnrely by the Said arms or brackets about in with openings allowing the passage of a eurthe middle of the said casing or receptacle. rent of air to the hat-brim, oi an electric heater E designates a detlector having the shape arranged within the said casing or receptacle of an inverted cone, and fastened at its apex and means for making electrical communicaby a stud e to the center or" the base of recep- 75 2 5 tion through the latter with the wire or other tacle A. It extends up within the said heater resisting conductor ot' the said heater, the cnrto a level with the top of the receptacle its rent of air carrying up vaporized moisture to longitudinal axis coinciding with that of the the hat-brim for the purpose stated. cylindrical core B and the cylindrical casing The said invention also consists in combinor receptacle A. Arms or brackets e extend 8o 3e ing with the said casing and heater a detlector from the said core inward to the said defiector arranged to direct the current of air to the being fastened to both and bracing both,but points where it is to be applied. y 'especially the latter. lt' preferred, the core The said invention further consists more B may be covered with asbestus or other inspeeilically in the combination of a deiiector sulating material. S5 35 in the torni of an inverted cone, with a cylin- The rim A of the casing or receptacle A drical electric heater surrounding the same and the rim E ot' the deiiector E leave an anand an exterior casing or receptacle which is nular space between them corresponding apopen at the top, its rim and the rim of the deproximately to a hat-brim. .ilector leaving between them an annular space The operation is as follows. Water or an5T 9o 4o corresponding te the hat-brim which rests other suitable liquid being supplied to the thereon; and in certain additional details of said receptacle in small quantities, the elecconstrncticn arrangement and combination tric heater is put into circuit and the air hereinafter more particularly set forth and Within the casing A is heated, causing a conclamed, tinual draft or current from openings a up 95 45 The accompanyingdrawingrepresentsaperthrough the interior of the said easing or respective view ot an electric hat-brim-softening ceptacle t0 the hat brim which rests on the device embodying myinventiomthe casing or rims A E; and also vaporizing the liquid at receptacle being partly broken away to show the bottom of the said receptacle and carrythe heater and dedector within. ing it up to the said brim; where the deilector rco 5o A designates the exterior casing or recep- E insures the full application of the current tacle which is preferably of cylindrical forni, of heated air and its entire charge of moisture to the said brim. These agencies act on the latter to soften it so that it will no longer resist molding to iit the head of the purchaser and wearer. The said detlector, being of smooth metal, acts also as a heat reiiector, and thereby doubles or greatly increases the action of the electric heater on the air or the liquid within the receptacle or casing.

The same devices may be applied to other articles than hat-brims for the purpose of heat-ing and moistening them; it being necessai-y only to rest such articles on the top of the said receptacle, or hold them over the same in the ascending current.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with an exterior casing,

said easings being arranged to support a hat- 3o brim in position to be acted on by the ascending steam and hot air substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with an external casing or receptacle, a deflector in the shape of an inverted cone arranged within the said receptacle so as to leave an annular space between the rims of these parts, and an electric heater surrounding` the said deflector substantially as set forth.

4t. In combination with a receptacle or casing, a deflector in the shape of an inverted cone attached to and supported on the bottom of the said receptacle,a metallic cylinder constituting the core of an electric heater and surrounding at an interval the said deector, an electric conductor wound on the said cylinder and forming part of an electric circuit, and rigid arms or brackets connecting the said receptacle to the said cylinder and the said cylinder tothe said deilector substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affixu my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIS MITCHELL.

NVitnesses:

EDWIN W. PIERCE, APELATIAH R. TRIPP. 

